COBI 2015 - Public Service Commission

Overview
Issues
Performance
Background
Financials

Sources Uses

FY 2016 Appropriation

The Public Service Commission ensures safe, reliable and adequate utility service for Utah residents. It conducts hearings and investigations of utility company operations in order to determine just and reasonable rates for service. The Commission's goals for regulation are efficient, reliable, reasonably-priced utility service for customers, and maintenance of financially healthy utility companies. These goals are generally attained through the regulatory decisions the Commission makes in each formal case.

Funding History

Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $16,899,800 from all sources for Public Service Commission. This is a 3.5 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time

The following are performance measures tracked within this organization.

Statute

UCA Title 54, chapters 1 through 15, establish the Commission and authorize it to regulate utilities.

The Public Service Commission budget is comprised of three line items:

Public Service Commission
Speech & Hearing Impaired
Universal Telecommunications Support Fund

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 73

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided to the Public Service Commission in Item 32, Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 2014 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of nonlapsing funds is limited to maintenance, upgrades, and licensing for the Public Service Commission's document management system; computer equipment and software upgrades; employee training and incentives; and special projects/studies that might require consultants or temporary employees.

HB0003: Item 74

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided to the Public Service Commission in Item 33, Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 2014 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. Ending balances for the Speech and Hearing Impaired program are non-lapsing under section 54-8b-10(5)(d).

HB0003: Item 139

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided to the Public Service Commission in Item 35, Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 2014 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The Universal Telecommunications Support Fund is set in statute under section 54-8b-15.

The Commission receives funding from the special restricted fund, known as the Public Utilities Regulatory Fee (PURF), Dedicated Credit Funds for the Speech and Hearing Impaired program, and restricted funds for the Universal Public Telecommunications Service Support Fund (USF).

Special Funds

Public Utilities Regulation Fund (PURF): The purpose of this special restricted fund known as PURF is to "defray the cost of regulation" of those "public utilities subject to the jurisdiction" of the commission. Collections from PURF are remitted to the Commerce Service Fund which holds the funds until they are appropriated by the Legislature and subsequently spent by the Commission.

Display By:

Line Item

Funding Source

Expenditure Category

Appropriation Type:

Appropriation History by

Line Items	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Public Service Commission	2,959,900	2,716,200	3,469,100	3,316,400	3,873,500	(1,300)	3,872,200	(1,445,500)	2,426,700
Research and Analysis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Speech and Hearing Impaired	1,150,700	1,076,200	949,600	1,048,400	1,203,600	246,400	1,450,000	23,100	1,473,100
Lifeline Telecommunications Service Fund	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Alternative Fuel Vehicles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	$4,110,600	$3,792,400	$4,418,700	$4,364,800	$5,077,100	$245,100	$5,322,200	($1,422,400)	$3,899,800

Sources of Finance	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Federal Funds	0	0	7,200	112,300	116,900	0	116,900	(118,300)	(1,400)
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act	1,021,900	819,000	1,546,800	974,600	1,375,000	0	1,375,000	(1,375,000)	0
Dedicated Credits Revenue	1,099,800	1,971,400	2,111,200	1,720,800	1,205,600	(203,600)	1,002,000	(176,900)	825,100
GFR - CSA - PURF	1,959,500	1,991,700	2,169,500	2,424,200	2,379,600	0	2,379,600	46,500	2,426,100
Transfers	29,500	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Transfers - Other Agencies	0	11,500	8,600	9,400	0	0	0	0	0
Beginning Nonlapsing	1,114,200	1,096,800	2,098,000	3,522,600	0	4,399,100	4,399,100	(448,700)	3,950,400
Closing Nonlapsing	(1,096,800)	(2,098,000)	(3,522,600)	(4,399,100)	0	(3,950,400)	(3,950,400)	650,000	(3,300,400)
Lapsing Balance	(17,500)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	$4,110,600	$3,792,400	$4,418,700	$4,364,800	$5,077,100	$245,100	$5,322,200	($1,422,400)	$3,899,800

Categories of Expenditure	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Personnel Services	1,854,300	1,835,100	1,814,100	1,939,100	2,282,500	17,300	2,299,800	(49,000)	2,250,800
In-state Travel	22,500	18,900	14,700	18,100	15,900	0	15,900	5,600	21,500
Out-of-state Travel	21,100	18,000	21,500	20,000	24,500	0	24,500	5,000	29,500
Current Expense	2,158,800	1,863,400	2,491,300	2,123,300	2,649,000	248,000	2,897,000	(1,414,600)	1,482,400
DP Current Expense	53,900	57,000	77,100	116,100	105,200	(20,200)	85,000	30,600	115,600
Other Charges/Pass Thru	0	0	0	148,200	0	0	0	0	0
Total	$4,110,600	$3,792,400	$4,418,700	$4,364,800	$5,077,100	$245,100	$5,322,200	($1,422,400)	$3,899,800

Other Indicators	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Budgeted FTE	17	21	22	22	22	0	22	0	22
Actual FTE	17.30	20	19	17.60	0	0	0	0	0

Line Items	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Universal Telecommunications Support Fun	6,425,100	9,650,500	9,385,900	9,418,200	11,000,000	0	11,000,000	2,000,000	13,000,000
Total	$6,425,100	$9,650,500	$9,385,900	$9,418,200	$11,000,000	$0	$11,000,000	$2,000,000	$13,000,000

Sources of Finance	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Licenses/Fees	2,896,500	9,984,400	10,989,400	11,141,900	11,000,000	0	11,000,000	2,000,000	13,000,000
Lapsing Balance	0	0	0	(1,723,700)	0	0	0	0	0
Beginning Fund Balance	4,460,200	931,600	1,265,600	0	2,869,100	(2,869,100)	0	0	0
Ending Fund Balance	(931,600)	(1,265,500)	(2,869,100)	0	(2,869,100)	2,869,100	0	0	0
Total	$6,425,100	$9,650,500	$9,385,900	$9,418,200	$11,000,000	$0	$11,000,000	$2,000,000	$13,000,000

Categories of Expenditure	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Other Charges/Pass Thru	6,425,100	9,650,500	9,385,900	9,418,200	11,000,000	0	11,000,000	2,000,000	13,000,000
Total	$6,425,100	$9,650,500	$9,385,900	$9,418,200	$11,000,000	$0	$11,000,000	$2,000,000	$13,000,000

Show Table | Show Additional Information

Other Indicators	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Change in Fund Balance	(3,528,600)	333,900	1,603,500	0	0	0	0	0	0

COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.